James Allen News Center

Congratulations! Your wedding is just around the corner. But you’re stressed about fitting into your tight, satin wedding gown. It’s common for brides to start dieting a few months before their wedding. While many brides try crash dieting (e.g. grapefruit diet, cauliflower soup diet, etc.), this approach is physically and psychologically unhealthy and not recommended by doctors. It’s well known that those who try crash dieting quickly gain back the weight.

New York-based nutritionist and public health expert Susan Meyers has helped hundreds of brides drop those extra pounds before walking down the runway.

“Brides to be tend to overdo it and go to unhealthy extremes to lose weight before their wedding day. What they don’t know is that losing weight the healthy way can be just as simple as losing it the unhealthy way, and yield long term results that will last well beyond the honeymoon. Subtle changes are easy to implement and lead to phenomenal results.”

We asked Nutritionist Meyers for some pre-wedding weight loss tips:

1. Replace coffee with herbal or green tea. Overconsumption of caffeine can make your irritable and increase sugar and snack cravings. Green tea has antioxidants  that help against free radicals. Something small as substituting coffee for tea will help you lose some extra pounds.

2. Don’t eat on the run! Take time to sit down and eat slowly. In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, we rarely remember to set time aside to eat properly.  It takes at least twenty minutes for the body to digest and feel full. Eating quickly doesn’t allow the body to activate this mechanism and results in overeating. Next time you go to eat, ask yourself, Am I standing or sitting?

3. Your diet does not start tomorrow! Procrastination is the biggest cause of weight gain. If your goal is to become fit for your wedding day, recognize that every moment counts. Don’t sabotage yourself by putting off till tomorrow what you can do today. Even if you had a donut or unhealthful snack in the morning, that doesn’t mean you have to eat one in the evening or start a new the next day.

4. Watch the condiments! You’d be surprised how many calories are hidden in small amounts of salad dressing, condiments, sauces, toppings, and seasonings. Next time you order a salad, ask for the dressing on the side and use sparingly.

5. Beware of friends with unhealthy lifestyles! Be wary of hanging out with acquaintances who have unhealthy eating habits. Say No to friends who pressure you to go out for cheesecake, French fries, or go bar-hopping (alcohol is bursting with empty calories). Don’t worry, this doesn’t make you a bad friend and they’ll still come to your wedding. It’s important to put your wellbeing first.  

By following these five simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to floating down the aisle, light as a feather.